The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 331: Volume 5: Lord’s Path - 16: Rhode Island

Chapter 331: Volume 5: Lord’s Path Chapter 16: Rhode Island

Rhode Island, this place is an inconspicuous island among the Bermuda Islands in the Southern Nether Sea region. The surrounding Shajia Island has a more advantageous geographical position than this one, Mannlicher Island is larger in size, and Closseau Island boasts more beautiful scenery. But unexpectedly, this is the location of the headquarters of the Gray Skull that controls the sea transportation throughout the entire Southern Nether Sea region.

On the northern end of the island, two gigantic, sharply pointed capes extend deep from the northeast and northwest, forming a vast oval-shaped harbor. The cape on the northeast extends farther into the sea. At the very tip, a lighthouse built from gigantic basalt rocks looms into the clouds. At night, the lighthouse’s beacon can be seen from at least fifty miles away on the sea. As the cape winds deep into the ocean, although the cape stretching to the northwest isn’t as extensive as its northeastern counterpart, its terrain is much flatter, and the few hundred meters wide waist of the cape is also much straighter. There’s also a lighthouse at the tip of this cape, just considerably shorter. The tips of both capes have a split, akin to the pincers of scorpions and crabs, hence their names, Eastern Pincer Cape and Western Pincer Cape.

The two protruding capes form an arc-shaped island arc, and the inside of this arc becomes a series of natural deep-water harbors. A string of docks of various sizes along the inside of the island arc looks neatly arranged. Outside the island arc lie excellent fishing grounds, while the series of hidden and visible reefs along the arc happen to be the Southern Nether Sea’s most famous coral producing area. However, if one wishes to fish or harvest coral there, they would need to see how the mood of the island’s master fares.

The bottom of the island arc constitutes the most concentrated area of buildings on Rhode Island and is also the most bustling district of the island. Foreign vessels entering the harbor between the closely watched Eastern and Western Pincer Capes are greeted by a gloomy three-story building located right in the middle of the arc’s base. A flag with a white background and a gray human skull insignia unfurls on top of the building. The skull’s eye sockets are embroidered with black silk thread, making it even more striking against the wind.

The window in the center of the second floor is wide open, and an elderly man with a slightly hunched back faces the bay. He wears a snugly fitting velvet waistcoat with a gold-edged chain hanging from the left chest. His nearly closed eyes resemble someone about to fall asleep. His hands are clasped behind his back, skillfully rotating a sandalwood pipe between his fingers. The sea breeze brings bursts of salty, fishy aroma, but the elderly man seems to quite enjoy this scent from the open sea, flaring his nostrils and looking thoroughly content.

A burly man with sideburns stands respectfully behind a large desk, bending slightly in front of this hunchbacked old man. He doesn’t dare to show the least bit of disrespect in front of the old man. Perhaps if this hunched old man were to appear in any other setting, those who do not know him would assume he is some elderly noble or gentleman. Nobody would associate him with the leader of the Gray Skull, the formidable power of the Southern Nether Sea.

"So you’re saying that this new Lord of Caucasus seems quite ambitious, which doesn’t quite align with the information that Philip old chap had passed along." His half-closed gaze remained on the calm sea surface within the harbor. There aren’t many ships coming and going – it’s not the busiest time. Occasionally, a couple of small patrol boats glide out of the harbor, performing routine patrols along the edge of the capes. No matter the situation, these routine patrols could never be neglected, that was one of the ironclad rules set by the old man. Once someone breached this rule, they would end up dangling from the noose erected in front of the three-story building.

"Yes, it is said that these 150,000 immigrants are already on their way, and will start arriving in Caucasus one after another within half a month at most. The attack from the Half-beastmen of the North has been too fierce; several countries and city-states have already fallen, hence such a large number of refugees. Upon his arrival in Ugru, this new Lord immediately started rallying local powers on one hand while seeking various opportunities on the other, appearing very much like someone ready to make a big impact in Caucasus. It is rumored that they have discovered an iron mine on the southwest corner, bordering Barbarian Territory, and this Lord is already recruiting and mobilizing the populace to focus on constructing a road from Ugru to the mine, presumably to solve financial difficulties within the territory." The burly man with sideburns then added, "Now Hesse father and son and that Lord have gotten quite close, especially Hesse’s son. He has hit it off with one of the Lord’s attendants who came with him, and almost all daily affairs within Caucasus Territory are now being managed by that attendant and Hesse’s son."

"Oh?" The last words of the burly man with sideburns finally stirred the previously indifferent hunched old man, who slowly turned around. His now open pale gray eyes flashed with a sharpness that didn’t seem to match his age. His neatly groomed hair shone with a greasy gleam, and his towering nose was accompanied by a lush green beard, both impeccably tidy. Coupled with a neatly pressed gentleman’s coat, from any perspective, he looked every inch the perfect model of a peaceful gentleman.

"Are you saying Hesse has gotten in with that Komer? Didn’t you tell me last time that he had a hand in the assassination attempt against the latter? Isn’t Hesse afraid that the other party might uncover the truth behind this?"

"This servant also finds it strange, but Hesse seems to maintain a distance with that Lord. However, his son is indeed very closely entangled with the other party," said the man with the beard, weighing his words and cautiously replying.

"Has there been any change on Mattdam’s side?" Not dwelling further on this question, the hunchback old man was most concerned about the situation of his logistical supply base.

"There hasn’t been any major movement for the time being. However, the Lord’s Mansion of Ugru has issued a notice recruiting refugees from all over to reclaim wasteland and open mines. This announcement has been distributed everywhere via the passing merchants, especially within the Kingdom of Nicosia. Besides that big group of refugees still on the way, a fair number of scattered ones has already entered the Caucasus lately, Ugru has received the most, but Mattdam has also had two or three hundred people settling in. However, most of these people are quite destitute, coming to Mattdam only to find food and make a living. They generally reclaim wasteland and fell timber in the surrounding wildlands. Recently, two new logging yards have been opened next to the Mattdam market, reportedly to prepare sufficient building timber for the immigrants, recruiting quite a number of workers. Moreover, the Lord’s Mansion has already had someone plan the area from three kilometers in the center of Mattdam to the dockside as district land. It is said that the plan was decided by a follower of that Lord. It looks like Mattdam will sooner or later have a large influx of immigrants. Therefore, I am a bit worried that our supply might..." At this point, the bearded strong man’s face showed a shade of worry.

"Hmph, you don’t have to borrow trouble. You think that Komer is an easy mark? He probably already knows you are one of the ’Gray Skulls.’ On the surface, you are the largest food merchant in the Caucasus, but instead of staying in the populous Ugru, you have been residing for a long time in Mattdam, which has less than a thousand people, bringing in so much food each season, far exceeding the needs of Mattdam’s population several times over. Do you think that the Lord isn’t aware? Just the fact that he scrutinized everyone in the Caucasus with some foundation, yet didn’t touch you, is enough to determine that they have long known your true identity. But that’s alright, he has revealed his intentions through this move, which is that we keep to our own waters. He can be the Caucasus Lord, and I can play my pirate tricks. We have nothing to do with each other, as long as he doesn’t interfere with my supply. We can live peacefully, and who knows, there might even be a chance for us to work together on a big play," said the hunchback old man with a sly smile at the corners of his mouth, only revealing his shrewd and sinister expression unbecoming of a gentleman in such a moment.

"But now they are recruiting soldiers and horses on a large scale, expanding the army!" In his urgency, the bearded strong man could not help but blurt out.

"Idiot! Do you think that conscripting a bunch of Beastmen will suffice to deal with us? Hmph, we are not the enemies of that Lord, at least not now. He has a lot of things to deal with at the moment. When will he ever get around to us? Besides, we haven’t provoked him, and I don’t wish to provoke him. Because he is a Mage, but it doesn’t mean that I am afraid of him. Many things cannot be done just by virtue of being a Mage, and I believe he understands this as well," the hunchback old man glared at him, his piercing grey eyes causing the bearded strong man to shrink back, hurriedly hunching over.

"Tick, for now try not to provoke him. I believe he will not make things difficult for you. According to the intelligence I have, this Komer is not simple. Even the famous Fallen Knights of the Continent couldn’t kill him. Heh, this Magic Lord has quite some abilities. The power of Katrina in the south has swollen considerably and has already posed a great threat to us ’Gray Skulls.’ I don’t wish to needlessly erect such an enemy at this time. But I hope his enemies will not let him off," the hunchback old man turned his gaze back to the distant bay, "Let’s observe and see what kind of schemes he can come up with in the Caucasus. You may leave now, do everything as usual, but be careful, and don’t be too ostentatious."

The bearded strong man nodded hurriedly, not daring to say more. With a bow, he left the room silently.

Staring towards the East, the hunchback old man murmured in a voice so low even he could barely hear, "Philip, that old fox, actually dares to scheme such a plot. To sow discord, to use one to kill another, to make pirates go ashore to kill – he really thinks I must rely on his intelligence network. Hmph, you think too simply of me, Gote."